ABSTRACT
Computer technology has become widely accessible in academia. In addition, programs that link computers and allow users to share information easily are becoming more common. This paper explores some of the possible effects such new technologies might have on the discipline of sociology. We concentrate on the modifications such interactive sociology might provoke in the status system in the discipline. We point out that while sociology, like other arts and sciences, is a social activity, the status system is highly individualistic. New technologies make it possible to develop a sociology that both facilitates collaboration and better reflects the collaborative nature of academic work. Nevertheless, we point to a variety of social constraints that determine the nature of the discipline, and we note that technological innovation alone is not sufficient to lead to the change to interactive sociology.
